Spanish Town woman fined $300,000 for attempted police bribery as Jamaica mourns coach Steven Francis

A Spanish Town woman was fined $300,000 or 30 days in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to trying to bribe a police officer with $15,000 to keep her son from being prosecuted. The sentence was handed down in St. Catherine parish court on the same weekend that government and opposition figures mourned decorated track and field coach Steven Francis, who died in hospital late Saturday, a day after his 64th birthday.

Kaden Anton, 45, of Spanish Town, admitted attempted bribery with an explanation. She told the court she believed the officer had set her up. "It is he who sent to me for the money. That's a setup," she said.

Her attorney asked the court for leniency, saying Anton had been under heavy stress after not seeing her son for more than a year and that offering the money was a lapse in judgment. The lawyer also noted that Anton did not waste the court's time by pleading guilty and successfully argued that her fingerprints should not be taken and that no conviction should be recorded.

The judge told Anton she was wrong to offer money to police while they were carrying out their duties. She was then fined and thanked the court for its mercy.

According to the facts before the court, on June 14, 2026, Anton was inside a motor car being driven by her son when police stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, she reportedly told the officers, "I can give you $15,000 now," before attempting to hand over the money. She was arrested and charged with attempted bribery.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, writing on X, described Francis as a patriot whose work helped Jamaican athletes reach international stardom and strengthened brand Jamaica through track and field. Holness said Francis made the bold decision to leave a career in finance to dedicate his life to coaching, a move that helped shape one of the sport's greatest legacies. Francis received the Order of Jamaica in 2017, the country's fourth-highest national honour, in recognition of his contribution to sport.

Sports Minister Olivia Grange said Francis was a unique figure who used his talents to bring glory to Jamaica and improve the lives of countless athletes. She said he played a pioneering role in the formation of the MVP Track Club on behalf of the Government of Jamaica and extended condolences to his brother Paul, friends and colleagues including Bruce James, and the entire MVP team.

The People's National Party said the nation had lost a renowned coach whose decades of work helped establish Jamaica as a dominant force in world athletics. Opposition spokesperson on sport Waverley Hines described Francis as one of the principal architects of the country's rise in international athletics, saying his commitment to excellence and confidence in Jamaican talent transformed not only individual athletes but the wider track and field landscape. The party extended condolences to Francis's family, MVP Track Club, the athletics fraternity, and all Jamaicans mourning the loss.